The Scary Type Of Pregnancy That Could Rupture Your Fallopian Tube

Finding out you're pregnant can cause any number of emotions—from excitement to stress to joy, and everything in between. But for women whose pregnancies turn out to be ectopic, it can be both scary and dangerous.

So what is an ectopic pregnancy exactly? Put simply, it’s when an embryo implants itself outside the central cavity of the uterus, rather than within, says Kecia Gaither, M.D., a double board-certified physician in ob-gyn and fetal maternal medicine. This could happen in a number of ways. For example, the embryo could implant somewhere in the abdomen, such as the anterior abdominal wall, ovary, spleen, or liver—this is known as an abdominal pregnancy. In some cases, it can implant in the cervix. But, most commonly, ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube—that’s why they’re often referred to as “tubal pregnancies.”

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Granted, as research notes, this type of pregnancy is pretty rare. That said, it's not impossible and can happen to any woman. If your mind is now flooded with questions like, "What are the signs of ectopic pregnancy?" "What puts me at risk?" and "What do I do if this happens?" don’t fret. We’ve chatted with the experts to get the full rundown. From symptoms, to diagnosis, to treatment, and everything in between, here’s what you need to know about ectopic pregnancies.

This diagnosis usually happens within the first trimester, within the first five to seven weeks. That's because this is when most women start to notice they've missed their period and then check in with a doctor to see if they could be pregnant, says Sarah Yamaguchi, M.D., ob-gyn at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles.

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“It is also very difficult to see an ectopic pregnancy on ultrasound or show any symptoms until around that time as well," she says. "By five to seven weeks, in a normal pregnancy, we should also be able to see if the embryo is implanted in the correct uterine location.” Gaither says ectopic pregnancies are best diagnosed sonographically, generally in conjunction with a blood pregnancy test.

That said, if you have an ectopic pregnancy, you may get some much more intense symptoms, such as vaginal bleeding or severe abdominal pain, reports the Mayo Clinic. In these cases, you should seek medical treatment ASAP.

Ectopic pregnancies can happen to anyone. “There is no genetic basis for increased risk," says G. Thomas Ruiz, M.D., an ob-gyn at the Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. "An ectopic pregnancy is most commonly a random event." There are, however, a few factors that may make it more common, such as a history of previous pelvic infection, the presence of an IUD, previous pelvic surgery, and most importantly, a history of a previous ectopic pregnancy, says Ruiz. "Once a woman has had one ectopic pregnancy, future pregnancies carry a 15 percent risk of ectopic pregnancy, and history of two ectopic pregnancies carries a 50 percent future risk.”

David A. Ryley, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist at Boston IVF and a and clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School, says women may also be predisposed if they have a history of chlamydia or other STD exposure—or if they have endometriosis, previous gynecologic surgery, infertility, or an active smoking history.

Ectopic pregnancies shouldn't be taken lightly, as there are some serious health hazards. “Risks to the mother include tubal rupture or damage, hemorrhage, and death," says Gaither. "Once an ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed, it needs to be removed, either medically or surgically."

Ectopic pregnancies generally can't be carried to term, except in very rare cases when an undiagnosed abdominal pregnancy has led to a viable pregnancy, says Gaither. "They are not only rare, but exceedingly dangerous.”

Although there are major dangers involving ectopic pregnancy, there are solutions in place. “Due to advances in the detection of early developing ectopic pregnancies, 90 percent are treated with a shot of medication, known as methotrexate, which ‘dissolves’ the pregnancy,” says Ryley. In cases where the ectopic gestation is detected at later stages, a surgical procedure called a laparoscopy is needed to remove the pregnancy from its location. Often times it requires the removal of the involved fallopian tube, Ryley explains. "Advances in treatment have allowed us to safely diagnose ectopic pregnancies at an early stage of development, and surgical interventions are almost always avoided," he says. "With access to good ob-gyn care, a woman should not fear the low risk of conceiving an ectopic pregnancy.”

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